Ore concentrators



Unite This invention relates to improvements in machines for concentrating ore slimes from ball and rod mills or from ore bearing sands such as usually occur in placer mines.

In the usual methods of mining the ore which occurs as rock is reduced in size by crushers and, thereafter,

dtates Patent ground in rod or bar mills until the ore particles are broken down in size so as to liberate the gold embedded therein. The slimes from the grinding mills are then passed on to machines that separate the heavier metallic particles from the non-metallic particles or gangue. This step is usually referred to as the step of concentration.

The ore that has been ground to liberation in rod or bar mills containing water emerges as a slime containing heavy metallic particles and lighter gangue or non-metallic particles, the latter comprising the greatest percentage of the bulk.

In the method of concentration as carried out by the machine that forms the subject of this invention the mineral containing slimes is passed over a series of cells containing water and a revolving beater. Each cell is provided at its lowermost point with a slit through which the heavy metallic particles may pass and from which they are collected by suitable means.

Having thus pointed out the objects of the invention and briefly described the method, the construction of the concentrator will now be described for which purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the machine has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the concentrator showing a six cell unit;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 Figure l; and,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 Figure 2.

The machine has been illustrated as constructed from steel plates and angle irons and the construction has not been shown in detail but with sufiicient particularity to enable the invention to be fully understood.

The machine has two spaced side rails of angle iron which have been designated by reference numeral 5 and 5'. Attached to the rails are sides 6 and 6'. The bottom of the machine is wavy or escalloped as shown in Figure 2; the semi-cylindrical bottom has an inside radius of about eight inches and is provided at its lowermost point with a slit 7 that communicates the interiors of the cells with the elongated pocket 8 that has a tubular extension 9 which terminates in a molasses gate 10. .lournalled in bearings 11 which are positioned at the centers of the semi-cylindrical bottoms are shafts 12 that have each at least two radial spokes 13 to the outer ends of which are attached brushes 14. The brushes are formed with heavy bristles 15. Shaft 12 that projects from one side of cell X, the first in a series of six, is provided with a belt pulley 16 and a sprocket wheel 17. The shaft of the terminal cell, at the left in Figures 1 and 2, has one sprocket wheel and the shafts of the intermediate cells have each two sprocket wheels; the several sprocket Patented July 7, 1959 wheels are drivably interconnected by sprocket chains 18 and, therefore, the heaters turn simultaneously in a clockwise direction. Pulverized ore is fed to the machine through the intake 19 and enters the water whose top level has been designated by the dotted line 20. The gangue containing slime is discharged through opening 21 as shown in Figure 2. Positioned along the series of cells and supported above the water line is a high pressure water pipe 22 that has a number of downwardly projecting nozzles 23 from which the water issues in high velocity streams since the water in the pipe is usually maintained at a pressure of pounds per square inch. The ore is preferably fed to the concentrator by mechanical means such as a conveyor that has not been shown. The beaters turn from 18 to 20 times per minate and keep up a constant stirring and this agitation is supplemented by the high pressure spray. Due to the agitation the heavier metal and metal containing particles settle to the bottom. Nuggets of considerable size usually settle out in cell X. Since there is a constant input the pulp moves slowly toward the outlet and is subjected to repeated agitation by the heaters and water spray. Metal particles are deposited out at each cell, in diminishing sizes and quantities as the movement progresses, and as a result the metallic values have been completely removed when the pulp reaches the discharge. The values from pockets 8 are discharged into settling boxes 24 where they settle out by a gentle decanting action. The number of cells is, of course, optional and, therefore, most thorough separation or concentration can be effected.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An ore concentrator comprising: a plurality of serially connected cells having semi-cylindrical bottoms of substantially equal radii, the axes of the cells being substantially horizontal and arranged in horizontally spaced coplanar relation, the bottom of each cell having a longitudinal slot therein, the first cell of the series having an intake opening located above the plane of the axes, the last cell of the series having a discharge opening positioned at substantially the same height as the intake opening, a shaft journaled for rotation in each cell about the axis thereof, radial arms depending from each shaft, a brush mounted on the end of the arms in position to sweep the bottom of the cell, drive means operatively connecting each shaft for rotation in a direction to sweep material therein downstream across the slot and into the succeeding cell of the series, and an inclined trough positioned beneath each slot.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which each shaft is provided with spaced radial arms on opposite ends thereof, the brush extending from end to end of each cell between the arms.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which a water line, closed at one end, extends across the top of the cells, the line including a plurality of spray nozzles positioned to direct streams of water into each cell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 307,560 Malter Nov. 4, 1884 1,171,891 Sailer Feb. 15, 1916 1,297,372 Loventhal et a1. Mar. 18, 1919 1,402,783 Meyer Jan. 10, 1922 1,514,807 Tweedy Nov. 11, 1924 2,047,643 Mayer et al. July 14, 1936 2,678,727 Dru May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 178,724 Germany Feb. 27, 1904- 

